"For you who revere my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings" (Malachi 4:2). To revere means to worship or venerate as opposed to being "arrogant or an evildoer" (:1). Furthermore, the healing is accomplished by way of righteousness. Also, judgment destroys the evildoers but those who respect God are healed. For instance, the woman of Canaan was worshipful when she referred to Jesus as "'O Lord, Son of David!'" (Mt 15:22) and "worshipped Him, saying 'Lord, help me!'"(:25). Also, blind Bartimaeus appealed saying "'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'" (Mk 10:47) and asked "'Lord, I want to see'" (:51). Then the leprous man "begged him, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean'" (Lk 5:12). Therefore, you would say they had a prayerfully respectful attitude to base their faith upon. Jesus said, "'If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer'" (Mt 21:22).
"God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power who went about doing good and healing all" (Ac 10:38). People came to him for healing and one woman "when she heard about Jesus came behind Him in the crowd" (Mk 5:27). She wanted her health back, and afterwards explained to them "the whole truth" (:33). She had "had a flow of blood for twelve years" (:25) and "from many physicians had spent all that she had" (:26) and had "grown worse" (:26). In her weakened condition it seems that she might have given up by then. But she said, "'If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well'" (:28). She did so and "immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt she was healed" (:29). Jesus responded, "'Who touched My clothes?'" (:30). God's "power had gone out of him" (:30). Jesus had said, "'It is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work" (Jn 14:10). He had also said "'the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing'" (Mk 5:19). He was faced away from her and "turned around in the crowd" (5:30) so it was not a deliberate confrontation. Consequently he hold her, "'Your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction'" (:34). Was the faith based upon her perseverance or the strength of her belief? In one crowded meeting "the power of the Lord was present to heal them" (Lk 5:17) but no one was healed except a paralyzed man.
Bartimaeus was a blind man who, in order to survive daily at all times of the year, sat "by the roadside begging" (Mk 10:46). He was dependent upon others because he couldn't see and perform normal tasks. Then he heard from around him that Jesus and his disciples were coming by. Undoubtedly he had also heard about Jesus' healing ministry. He himself wanted to be healed so he "began to shout" (Mk 10:47) "'have mercy on me'" (:47). It was not a face-to-face visual contact but rather an audible communication. Jesus heard and replied, "'Call him here'" (:49). "Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more" (:48). Then when he was called, the crowd reversed themselves saying, "'Take courage'" (:49). Next Jesus asked, "'What do you want Me to do for you?'" (:51). The answer would necessitate boldness. He replied, "'Rabbi, I want to regain my sight!'" (:51). It was not just that he needed a warmer cloak for the winter. He spoke what was really on his heart that was most important to him. Jesus' response was, "'Go, your faith has made you well.'" (:52). "Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road" (:52). What was the source of his faith? Was it his confident shouting for help? Or was it his unashamed belief in being able to receive his sight? Jesus didn't itemize the qualifications and Bartimaeus didn't complete a checklist. Faith comes from in-heart believing.
People encountered Jesus and his disciples on their journey. It wasn't low-key where they were collecting petitions of prayer requests wherein "'you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer'" (Mt 21:22). Some confronted Jesus aggressively. The Syrophoenician woman "came out and began to cry out" (15:22) and the disciples asked Jesus to "'send her away, because she keeps shouting at us'" (:23). Bartimaeus "began to cry out" (Mk 12:47), and after being told to be quiet, "kept crying out all the more" (:48). Jesus then asked the blind man, "'What do you want Me to do for you?'" (:51). Therefore Jesus said, "'Go; your faith has made you well'" (:52). Jesus accomplished it but it was the man's faith that enabled it. Also, in the woman's case Jesus delivered the lady's daughter saying "'it shall be done'" (Mt 15:28) but attributed it to that "'your faith is great'" (:28). He did not say rather to give credit exclusively to his father, but instead acknowledged their faith as having activated the healing. However we know that it is, "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit'" (Zec 4:6). Their determination and perseverance was demonstrated via their personality though was not just mental. Faith is having conviction from God but can be built up. Her faith was "great" (Mt 15:28) but the disciples failed "'because of the littleness of your faith'" (17:20). Jesus observed their determination as well as the maturity of their faith. We are to "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (Heb 10:23).
"One day He was teaching; and there were some . . . sitting there [in a house] . . . and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing" (Lk 5:17). God had anointed Jesus "with the Holy Spirit and power" (Ac 10:38) and He went about "healing all" (:38). "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you" (1:8). "He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" (Ro 8:11).
Some men had carried a paralyzed man to the meeting to be healed, but it was too crowded, so they made an opening in the roof and lowered him which would have been risky. On TV there is a series where rescue vehicles recover wrecked trucks. There is a rotator truck where straps have to be strategically placed and other trucks' winching has to be exactly coordinated. The stretcher was lowered "into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus" (Lk 5:19). Jesus saw "their faith" (:20) and said "'your sins are forgiven'" (:20). He didn't say their faith had healed him but used forgiveness to demonstrate his authority. Also, he had essentially observed the faith of those who had helped the paralyzed man. Jesus said to him, "'I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home'" (:24). "Immediately he got up . . . and went home glorifying God" (:25).
The gospel is "the power of God for salvation to every one who believes" (Ro 1:16) "written that you may believe" (Jn 20:31). It is "the word of truth" (Ja 5:18), "message of truth" (Eph 1:13) and "living and enduring word of God" (1Pe 1:23). "Your word is settled in heaven" (Ps 119:89) because "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb 13:8). "'For I, the Lord, do not change'" (Mal 3:6). "'He who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also" (Jn 14;12). "Their anointing will qualify them for a perpetual priesthood" (Ex 40:15). "He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God" (Rev 1:6). This was accomplished by Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. It is a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises" (Heb 8:6). Therefore "'pray and ask [and] believe that you have received them'" (Mk 11:24). But make sure your request is "united by faith" (Heb 4:2).
After the resurrection Jesus appeared to two disciples on the way to Emmaus. He chided them of being "'Slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!'" (Lk 24:25). "He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the scriptures" (:27). Matthew concurs saying "This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet" (Mt 8:17). "The chastisement for our well-being fell upon Him" (Isa 53:5). It was for "our" (:4) benefit. "They brought to Him many . . . and [He} healed all who were ill" (Mt 8:16). This is the fulfillment prophesied. It does not say that only many were cured but that he "healed all" (:16). "By his stripes we are healed" (Isa 53:5). The wording does not limit those involved. "The word is settled in heaven" (Ps 119:89). The prophecy points to the future as already been accomplished. Peter cites "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross . . . for by His wounds you were healed" (1Pe 2:24). It is completed and 100% (not part) of the intent is transmitted having become a promise that you can depend on. "Were healed" (:24) is past tense meaning that it is already done. It is as a precedent set as if legislatively aproved and legally followed as a rule of law. The wounds are evidence. This precedent contains the authority to be appropriated today. But it was asked that don't you realize "that faith without works is useless?" (Ja 2:20).
Matthew explains "'He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases'" (Mt 8:17). He alone accomplished this at the Cross as seen that "His appearance was marred more than any man and his form more than the sons of men" (Isa 52:14). Isaiah makes it clear that "he was wounded . . . and "he was bruised" (53:5). Matthew equates it had "born our griefs" (Isa 53:4) with "took infirmities" (Mt 8:17) and had "carried our sorrows" with "bore sicknesses." This is healing language. "With his stripes we are healed" (Isa 53:5). At the same time Isaiah parallels it with Jesus being persecuted for "our transgressiions [sins] . . . and iniquities" (:5). God told Israel, "'I, the Lord, am your healer'" (Ex 15:26). He "pardons all your iniquities [and] heals all your diseases: (Ps 103:3). Peter says "He Himself bore our sins" (1Pe 2:24) and "by His wounds you were healed" (:24). Jesus spoke once when healing saying "'Your sins are forgiven you'" (Lk 5:20).
The man with leprosy cautiously implored, "'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean'" (Lk 5:12). Jesus then "stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, 'I am willing, be cleansed'" (:13). "Immediately the leprosy left him" (:13) Jesus told Bartimaeus, "'Go; your faith has made you well'" (Mk 10:52). The obligation was then to "'Get up, pick up your bed and go home'" (Mt 9:6). Furthermore, when Peter said to Aeneas, "'Jesus Christ heals you'" (Ac 9:34) he also directed him to "'get up and make your bed'" (:34). He had been "bedridden eight years" (:33) and maybe hardly remembered how to walk. But "immediately he got up" (:34). By faith you activate healing. Your faith is "more precious than gold" (1Pe 1:7). Do not negate the provision of the wounds of Jesus because their seriousness lays the foundation of healing for today.
The references explain that the anointing oil was smeared, rubbed or poured. The recipient is chosen as when "Jesus summoned His twelve disciples" (Mt 10:1) or "the Lord appointed seventy other" (Lk 10:1). Next "He gave them authority . . . to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness" (Mt 10:1). He also instructed to "heal those in it who were sick and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you" (Lk 10:9). They then were to "'Go into all the world'" (Mk 16:15) and "'In My name they will cast out demons'" (:17) and "'will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover'" (:18). It is said that this was Jesus commissioning them, which meaningfully applies to all believers. Consequently "many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles" (Ac 2:43) and they "were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them" (Mk 6:13). Jesus had prophesied "'The works that I do, he will do also'" (Jn 14:12). But he emphasized it would be done "'in My name'" (Mk 16:17). Peter's command accordingly was "'In the name of Jesus Christ'" (Ac 3:6) but he cooperated by "seizing him by the right hand [and] raised him up" (:7). Additionally "'greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father'" (Jn 14:12).
References explain anointing as a ceremony. One explained that shepherds rubbed oil on a sheep's head to protect it from insects. In the Bible it was considered a symbol of protection. When someone was anointed he was empowered for a task and needed defenses to carry it out. It is a choosing. "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power" (Ac 10:38). "It is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit as a guarantee" (2Co 1:21-22). But why would Jesus require the anointing when he was already God? "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach . . . [and] to heal" (Lk 4:18). When you believe "'you will receive power when His Holy Spirit has come upon you'" (Ac 1:8). "You were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph 1:13). Documents were made official when a wax seal by a stamp was applied to them. You do not undergo a chemical change in your body when you become a "new creature" (2Co 5:17). But you do receive the "Spirit in our hearts as a pledge" (1:21). In Jesus' situation "God was with Him" (Ac 10:38).